JPs are appointed or elected personages in specific precincts or districts. Generally, though actualities vary in all states, their term lasts for at most four years. Moreover, they need not be licensed or even practicing lawyers. In fact, most JPs are not at all legally trained, though in some respects they may be asked to take a course or two in a judicial college.
These civil public officers basically perform judicial acts, and they come in sundry appellation in many different places and points of time. Historically, for example, they have been called wardens, or keepers or conservators of peace. Nowadays, they are variously referred to as magistrates or district judges. Their jurisdiction is generally limited to townships, precincts, counties, cities, and in some cases, states.
The JP necessarily has to be someone of good nature and stature in the community, with no adverse record at the very least. Although the criteria of appointment are diverse, this is pretty rigid. He has to be knowledgeable and trustworthy, given the technicality of his functions, like certifying copies, witnessing and signing statutory affidavits, and some such sensitive operations that they are authorized to do by virtue of their position.
For instance, they may preside over cases of traffic violations, neighbor disputes, or else small debt repayments, and other relatively small scale lawsuits. In sum, they serve as entry level courts, and the particular case may therein be resolved or else passed to the high court. In that sense, they are convenient since they offer an accessible outlet which people can approach without complicated logistics and without the bane of longer distances.
Mandatory duties are outlined in the law, such that they should be an active board member of civil authorities. They must assist on Election Day, and they should preside on tax appeals and be a board member in cases of tax abatement. The negligence of these duties may result in penalizations. On the other hand, discretionary tasks include presiding over marriages, serving as magistrates, administering oaths, and some such. These are functions in which JPs have power to perform but they do not really have to, but when their services are tapped upon, then they must not discriminate based on prohibited factors like race, sexual orientation, religion, et cetera.
The general duties of the JP are basically those involving elections, tax abatement and appeals, marriages, notaries and oaths, or act as magistrates. They deal with affidavits, certifying documents, powers of attorney, statutory declarations, and some such. Their position really ranges over a lot of specialized, technical duties.
Although this justices educational requirements is not at all definitive and inhibiting, there is a more important qualification by which they must abide by. That is, they must put forth an acceptable standard of behavior and conduct. Especially in jurisdictions where they are elected rather than appointed, they have the need to maintain their trustworthiness and credibility in the eyes of their constituents. Being a JP hints considerable elbow grease. Therefore, they are trained before they act on their responsibilities. As said, they can be exhorted to continue their education, with the sponsorship of a JP program.
This justice occupies an office that is by consensus the most popular and numerous membership of public office. In fact, in a certain town of average population, there may be at least five justices. In considerably populated towns, there may even be as many as fifteen. However, although they are not really present and conspicuous, it would do to remark on the good service and usefulness of this office.
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